I don't mean demonize either (or scandalize like in agenda based biographies). I mean humanize, suggest vulnerability/fallibility/the pressures he faced.

I am not saying there isn't a great deal of mystery and mythology around Prince right now. But there has always been that around him even when he was alive. But it seems a bit different now. The stories about his childhood seem sadder, more poignant, the pressures seem more soul crushing, his own cruel behavior seems more self-protective and ultimately self-destructive, his kindness seems more extraordinary, his social awkwardness seems more understandable, his humor more suprising, his talent more the product of hardwork and sacrifice than just God-given talent, his religiousity more desperate, touching and sad..

Maybe this is just me up in my feelings right now..LOL..

Someone just posted this lovely picture of Prince with Andre Cymone and a little girl on his lap. Did pictures like this come out when he was alive.

Yes I agree that it certainly did. He was such a rock star and an icon and an "idol" and now we have heard so much more about him as a person, and makes him seem more human. Plus of course, his passing away and having some addiction related issues, makes him very human as well.

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It just makes the music even more powerful though, imo.

Absolutely it did. I believe Prince's resurgance (we know he never left) in 2004 until his death was a Prince that was more accessable to the common music listener. He appeared more in the public eye and was not as guarded as he once was. Prince was able to showcase his skills to a larger audience that normally didn't listen to his music.

The 2004-2016 tours helped to open more eyes here in the U.S. about his guitar playing (SNL Fury, RNRHOF, etc.) and his supreme stage showmanship. I've seen Prince in the 80's, 90's, 00's and 10's and it's hard for me to even think of anyone who comes close (James Brown put on a great show in 1985 though).

All I have to say is that even though it broke my heart when Prince passed, my heart was warmed by the outpour of love from the WORLD.

Us fans do,to an xtent,some fans on this sight talk about him as though they arnt fans,at all,each to their own,some mf saying some bs about P wont change how I think of him. Most people,NON FANS,think of him as a freak,hate to say it but its true. His death only confirmed their bs thoughts of him. What do they know and what do I care.

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'I know I shouldnt put my faith in heroes,but I cant c u any other way' RIP P

Laydown said:

purplerabbithole said:

I don't mean demonize either (or scandalize like in agenda based biographies). I mean humanize, suggest vulnerability/fallibility/the pressures he faced.

I am not saying there isn't a great deal of mystery and mythology around Prince right now. But there has always been that around him even when he was alive. But it seems a bit different now. The stories about his childhood seem sadder, more poignant, the pressures seem more soul crushing, his own cruel behavior seems more self-protective and ultimately self-destructive, his kindness seems more extraordinary, his social awkwardness seems more understandable, his humor more suprising, his talent more the product of hardwork and sacrifice than just God-given talent, his religiousity more desperate, touching and sad..

Maybe this is just me up in my feelings right now..LOL..

Someone just posted this lovely picture of Prince with Andre Cymone and a little girl on his lap. Did pictures like this come out when he was alive.

Really special post. Thanks Pete.

the privilege is mine, he's on my mind as as ever these days.

Yes, it has. I do think that in the last 12 years of his life, members of the general public and the music industry gained a more positive view of him and his legacy for a number of reasons. First of all, songs like 1999, Let's Go Crazy, Purple Rain, Kiss, When Doves Cry, and Little Red Corvette have become/continued to be classics that receive regular play on radio and at sporting events.

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I think that starting around 2004, the general public began to view him in a more favourable light. There was the performance at the Grammys with Beyonce and the Rock and Roll HOF performance. I think that the Super Bowl performance was a really big deal. First of all, that Super Bowl (41) had a lot of buzz around it because both of the head coaches were black (Tony Dungy and Lovie Smith) and Peyton Manning won his first Super Bowl. Prince's performance just added to the significance of that game. I watched the performance live and while I didn't re-watch the performance again until after his death, and I didn't remember many details of the performance, I do remember that his performance was excellent.

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I'm 31 (born in 1986) and I thought he was a weirdo when I was a kid because he changed his name to a symbol and wrote slave across his face. I was too young to understand why he was doing what he was doing with the name change and "slave." I do think that the numerous appearances at award shows and the Super Bowl performance helped people to become more aware of his greatness and his legacy and focus less on the name change and "slave" era. The increasing prominence of online music services and decline in physical record sales made his conflict with WB seem less crazy and more sensible. I remember when he appeared at the Grammy's in 2015, he received a very long standing ovation. People knew that his legacy was important. I'm glad that he received the recognition that he did while he was alive because he deserved it. We may never know the extent to which he was dealing with personal demons at the end of his life, but I do believe that when he died, he knew that he left a tremendous music legacy and knew that other people knew that he left a tremendous musical legacy.

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I think that his death and the reaction to it was a continuation of the recognition he received during the last 12 years of his life. When he died, it really just cemented his legacy as one of the greatest musicians to ever live.

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In terms of humanizing him, I think his death has humanized him quite a bit because the public became more aware about his private life and his private struggles. He wasn't in the news much during the last couple years of his life. During the last 10 years of his life, he was rarely ever in the tabloids or a part of the Hollywood rumor mill at all. He was really only in the news for music-related matters. I think, in particular, that learning more about the death of his son has humanized him because it is an example of how celebrities have to face struggles just as regular people do. I knew he had been married to Mayte and they had a son who died, but I didn't know anything beyond that. Hearing stories from family and friends about some of his funny moments and quirks also humanized him because these stories make him seem like a down-to-earth, regular guy.

purplerabbithole said:

I don't mean demonize either (or scandalize like in agenda based biographies). I mean humanize, suggest vulnerability/fallibility/the pressures he faced.

I am not saying there isn't a great deal of mystery and mythology around Prince right now. But there has always been that around him even when he was alive. But it seems a bit different now. The stories about his childhood seem sadder, more poignant, the pressures seem more soul crushing, his own cruel behavior seems more self-protective and ultimately self-destructive, his kindness seems more extraordinary, his social awkwardness seems more understandable, his humor more suprising, his talent more the product of hardwork and sacrifice than just God-given talent, his religiousity more desperate, touching and sad..

Maybe this is just me up in my feelings right now..LOL..

Someone just posted this lovely picture of Prince with Andre Cymone and a little girl on his lap. Did pictures like this come out when he was alive.

[Edited 6/18/17 17:00pm]

Another wonderful post.

I love the photo. It's also sad in a way because I think that Prince really loved children, and it breaks my heart that he was only able to be a father for 6 days. From what Mayte wrote in her book, he was a wonderful father during his son's short life.

purplerabbithole said:

I don't mean demonize either (or scandalize like in agenda based biographies). I mean humanize, suggest vulnerability/fallibility/the pressures he faced.

I am not saying there isn't a great deal of mystery and mythology around Prince right now. But there has always been that around him even when he was alive. But it seems a bit different now. The stories about his childhood seem sadder, more poignant, the pressures seem more soul crushing, his own cruel behavior seems more self-protective and ultimately self-destructive, his kindness seems more extraordinary, his social awkwardness seems more understandable, his humor more suprising, his talent more the product of hardwork and sacrifice than just God-given talent, his religiousity more desperate, touching and sad..

Maybe this is just me up in my feelings right now..LOL..

Someone just posted this lovely picture of Prince with Andre Cymone and a little girl on his lap. Did pictures like this come out when he was alive.

purplerabbithole said:

I don't mean demonize either (or scandalize like in agenda based biographies). I mean humanize, suggest vulnerability/fallibility/the pressures he faced.

I am not saying there isn't a great deal of mystery and mythology around Prince right now. But there has always been that around him even when he was alive. But it seems a bit different now. The stories about his childhood seem sadder, more poignant, the pressures seem more soul crushing, his own cruel behavior seems more self-protective and ultimately self-destructive, his kindness seems more extraordinary, his social awkwardness seems more understandable, his humor more suprising, his talent more the product of hardwork and sacrifice than just God-given talent, his religiousity more desperate, touching and sad..

Maybe this is just me up in my feelings right now..LOL..

Someone just posted this lovely picture of Prince with Andre Cymone and a little girl on his lap. Did pictures like this come out when he was alive.

Well theres certainly no negativity towards hime.

The overriding consensus seems to be is that he defied everything to fulfil his own perception of what he "knew" his future to hold. He's being seen as a role model of determination as well as purity and of course talent